Intellectual Changes in Alcoholics. Psychometric Studies on Mental Sequels of Prolonged Intensive Abuse of Alcohol

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Abstract
3 groups of male subjects were compared in 24 test variables: Group I, 30 alcoholics hospitalized in connection with a period of alcohol abuse, showing sequels as tremor etc. Preformances were tested as soon as the alcohol had disappeared from the blood, and, when necessary, after the patients were fully oriented and free from hallucinations and delusions. Group II, 30 parallel cases, examined after a few weeks of hospitalization. Group III, 29 control subjects, consisting of people without alcohol problems, matched to the patients in group II according to age, domicile, education and occupational status. In all groups neurotic disturbances were common. In most test variables the results were better in group II tha n in I. The results were significantly better in 9 variables. The impairment resembles what is said to be typical for intellectual deterioration on organic basis. In the comparison between groups II and III, the control group was superior in most variables; in 7 variables the group was significantly better, in 1 significantly worse. These differences were less clear than in the comparison between groups I and II and difficult to interpret.